.380 +p

This is a discussion on .380 +p within the Defensive Carry Guns forums, part of the Defensive Carry Discussions category; Does anyone have any expierience with the new Buffalo Bore .380 +p with 288 lbs. of energy out of a P3AT ? I love the ...

Just reading about this very thing on the elsiepea forum yesterday. Most opinion there was to shoot it dutch loaded w/hollowpoints for SD. Shooting lots of it is expensive and would be excessive wear on the gun. Some had shot it and said it was a handful of recoil out of an LCP but of course you wouldn't notice it in a SD situation.

Many of those tiny guns are hard enough to hold onto with standard ammo.

Sort of in the ballpark for my response. A lot of the .380 autos are not built well enough for seeing a thousand rounds of range ammo through them let alone some hot (for the caliber) PD ammo. Granted, things have come a long way in recent years, but if considering +P ammo in a .380, why not just get a 9mm using regular PD ammo? IMO, whatever cost there is could be justified in the long run. In my opinion, I could just as well have said quit playing around with the .380 if you mean business. On the other hand, I've recommended the 22lr in the past for those with certain circumstances. I just feel that a .380+P offering is simple marketing tactics by the ammo manufacturer since there seems to be a niche. A niche that to my thinking shouldn't even exist. Just move up to 9mm and you'll be better off IMO. Then you won't need to ask this question, and you won't have to worry about what toll it takes on your pistol. I never intend to come across as being harsh, I just tell it like I see it.

It says specificly in the manual NOT to use +p ammo in the manual... but I have wondered what would happen. I am an LCP owner myself, very similar firearms.

The LCP manual says not to use +P, the Kel-tec manual says it is ok to use +P.
From the manual:

SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNINGS

"AMMUNITION: The P-3AT Pistol is designed and chambered for the .380 Auto
cartridge. Do not use any other ammunition. The P-3AT will accept +P
ammunition, however not with continuous use."
"Only use commercially manufactured ammunition, clean, dry, and in good
condition.
Never use nonstandard, reloaded or damaged cartridges.
Never use ammunition where the pressure levels exceed industry standards."

Download the manual at their website. I did not see any reference to muzzle energy there.

My brother-in-law just picked up a P3AT and I gave him 5 of my Buffalo Bore +P ammo. It IS noticeably more harsh, not too bad.

I really like the BuffaloBore .380+P but, I would not run it through the P3AT - It's a great hard hitting round for the larger .380 pistols.
I carry BuffaloBore when I pack the Walther PPK/S as my BUG.

I really like the BuffaloBore .380+P but, I would not run it through the P3AT - It's a great hard hitting round for the larger .380 pistols.
I carry BuffaloBore when I pack the Walther PPK/S as my BUG.

Yea. I'm not saying to use it in the P3AT all the time, just 1 or 2 rounds when needed. I use it in my stainless P232 and it eats it without burping